The Town Council on Wednesday appointed Joe Brown to what will soon be a vacant town justice office. Gerald Sharlow is retiring from the post March 2.

Brown is a former Massena Police investigator, who retired last year after 23 years, and is now director of the Sullivan Law Enforcement Academy at SUNY Canton.

Brown will be eligible to sit on the bench after taking a weeklong justice training in April.

He will have to run for a four-year term in the November general election, Councilman Samuel Carbone said, who got that from the state.

“He’s a decorated, respected police officer … I think he would do a great job,” Councilman Steve O’Shaughnessy said.

“I got approval from my boss at work to take time off … to attend court. I discussed logistics with Judge Ferguson and Sharlow. The only issue would be arraignments … I can’t do arraignments during the day,” Brown said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge, I really am.”

He doesn’t yet have a justice salary yet, which the board will have to approve.